Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-28
MILITARY BANQUET.
The Retiring Colonel Entertains the OIL
GERS of the Regiment.

ing entertained the officers OF the regimen
at a banquet at John Haubs' restaurant Of
street. The officers met at the armory Il
fatigue uniform and marched to the res
taurant at $50 P NJ, from which they dit
not emerge until pam. The Colonel occu
pied position at the head of the table ant
the officers were arranged in order of thei
rank. The Colonel in his speech OF wei
come said that no one had been notified t
be prepared to respond to any particula
toast. 1t was a fact well established in al
history that great fighters never were grea
speech makers, and that being the cas'
great orators were not to be looked for II
the First Artillery Regiment. This beine
the last time that he should meet the Off
GERS of the regiment he desired it to be 6
time of jollity, go-as-you-please reunion
not soon to be forgotten. He then invited
all to partake of the elegant feast that had
been prepared for them. The menu was
most elaborate, the service of courses ex-
tending over two hours and embracing
the most toothsome edibles in variety,
fruits in and out of season,
foreign and domestic wines the best OF
CALIFORNIA; vintage and importations from
sunny France. The two hours of dining
and winning were devoted to pleasant con-
verse, sallies of wit and repartee, anecdotes
of camp life and innocent chatting. The
Colonel was unusually suaye and joyial !;
his subordinates followed wherever he led,
and the moments sped rapidly by in one
laughing, rolicking and congenial reunion.
When the last course had been served,
and the guests were RECALLING themselves
with the finest of Havanas, the Colonel
called attention and there was a halt in the
uproarious levity. He called upon Captain
John A. Sheehan, of the brigade staff, to
respond to the toast, THE future prosper
ity Of the Fourth Brigade
Captain Sheehan replied appropriately
to the sentiment expressed in the toast, and
said the officers of the brigade staff all ex-
pressed their deep regret at Colonel Shee-
hans retiracy. They had always looked
upon him as capable and efficient COM
mander, and the present excellent stand
ing OF the regiment was largely, if not al
most entirely, due to his untiring efforts in
its behalf.
Colonel Sheehan responded TO the Cap
tain's handsome compliment, saying that
he had been honored on q number of occa-
sions by the Fourth Brigade.
Toasts were responded to in the follow
ing order: The prosperity and welfare OF
the First Artillery Regiment for all time, !"
Lieutenant Colonel Guthrie.
The Major of the Regiment" Hand
somely responded to by Major Mckee. In
closing, he said we are losing commander
whom we have learned to honor, esteem
and love. By his cool, calm and deter
mined demeanor-always kind, ever right
he mas won the confidence of every man
in the regiment Colonel Sheehan can rest
assured that in retiring he carries with
him the best and earnest wisb-s of each in
dividual in the regiment for his success in
life, and can at all times count every man
in this command friend.
1.-The Senior Captain of Company b.
Responded to by Captain Cook.
Colonel Sheehan next announced The
Fighting Captain of the Regiment" and
called upon Captain Stevens, of the "a
Invincibles," to respond. Captain Stevens
is an exception to the rule, for he is both a
fighter and an orator, and in each of these
striking traits of character is decidedly
original. His every sentence is a gem of
thought. He strikes hard, his sarcasm is
whitening, his wit pungent, and his style
altogether that of queer make-up-but,
like Davy Crockett, he is first sure" then
sails right in regardless of consequences.
Lie ID Oil ClllCl Vi nlluocll,
and must be seen and heard to be appre-
ciated. His advice to his fellow officers re-
garding the selection of successor to Col
onel Sheehan was very pointed, and almost
approached personality. He did not believe
there was man in the regiment fit to step
in the shoes of his retiring commander,
whom he styled Little Phil"
The next toast called for was Company
G, the company of which Colonel Sheehan
was Captain when elected to the command
of the regiment. This toast was responded
to by its Captain, T. B. Hall.
Company F. of Woodland" Responded
to by Captain Cursor.
Company E, the Baby of the Regiment"
Captain Stafford.
Tour Citizen Soldiery." Replied to by H.
Weinstock, ex-Captain of Company G.. He
paid a high tribute to the National Guard
and compared the soldiers of Europe to
those of America. The American soldier
possesses a quality that European soldier
can never hope to possess and that is the
spirit of freedom. The American soldier
is the servant of no man. He is not the
tool in the hands of despot, mere food of
a cannon at tyrant's will; he does not
wear the uniform because he must. Where
there is that spirit of must, there cannot be
found that loyalty observable in our own
country where it is matter of option, a
matter of choice. With that love of home,
freedom and liberty which characterized
our revolutionary fathers still animating our
we never need fear foreign
power. We need never to fear 10 meet and
will certainly conquer the highest trained
army Europe can ever present. He gave a
description of what to him was an ideal sol
der, and said that man who filled the bill in
every respect was the retiring Colonel Of the
First Artillery Regiment. He closed his
lengthy and well-timed speech by saying:
6 The gentleman who sits at the head of
this banquet-table tonight has all the
traits of character, all the requisites of a
true and loyal military man. He was my
model. l endeavored to follow in his
footsteps; l followed his example So
long as the officers of this regiment will
hold him as their model, so long as they
endeavor to emulate his example, just so
long will our city and State be proud Of
you as officers of the National Guard
The Staff Officers Responded to by
Captain Neary, Adiutant on the Coloners
staff.
Captain Long proposed the health OF
Colonel Sheehaa, which was drank in a
bumper of champagne. The Colonel re-
sponded, saying that he left the National
Guard as he entered it, with the kindliest
feelings toward ell. He never expected to
be an active member again; his resigna-
ton had been accepted, and he retired
from the service with the rank of Colonel.
He should, however, always have an inter
est in the welfare of the regiment. He did
not believe there is a regiment in the State
could go through with the battalion
drill as well as could the First Artillery
Never in the history of the regiment
were the Captains and Lieutenants so
well up in military tactics. The time
had come when he could drop out without
Gripping the regiment. The Lieutenant
Colonel and the Major were competent and
efficient officers-men who were well up in
the drill work. He paid high compli-
ment to the Captains of the regiment, and
said when man leaves the Captaincy of a
for a higher position be really
steps down in the ranks; for, in his opin-
ion, to be Captain of a good company was
The first place in the National Guard. He
had not belonged to the National Guard
for the purpose of benefting himself finan-
cially or socially, but because he loved it.
He would always feel that the years of his
life devoted to this service were well spent,
and that in the First Artillery Regiment
he had many friends. He expressed his
gratitude to the officers for the many kind
nesses that had been shown him, and II he
ever gave offense it was in the line of duty,
and not because he disliked the individual.
In selecting his men he never allowed
politics to sway him in the least he would
simply consider whether or the individual
would make good officer. He had en-